Gentle Walking Ecuador & Galapagos Cruise New for 2016 Wonderful walking in the highlands and a fabulous Galapagos cruise.
Group trip
See overleaf for departure dates
Holiday overview Style Accommodation Grade Duration Trekking / Walking days Min/Max group size Trip Leader Land only Max altitude
Walking Hotels, Lodges, Premium Class Yacht Gentle / Moderate 18 days from London to London Walks on: 5 days 2 / 12. Guaranteed to run for 2 Local Leader Ecuador Joining in Quito, Ecuador 5,000m/16,405ft
Private Departures & Tailor Made itineraries available
Mountain Kingdoms – distinctly different Truly independent In an age where many so-called ‘independent’ travel companies have in fact been bought out by multi-national giants, we remain fiercely independent with all the benefits this offers our clients. Value for money prices with an emphasis on quality We are not in the business of cutting our itineraries and services to the bone to offer eye-catching cheap prices. We use some of the best airlines, and typically 3 or 4 star hotels in cities. We include the majority of meals and private transport for road travel. We use excellent equipment and appoint well-trained staff and leaders. In 2014 97% of our clients rated their Mountain Kingdoms holiday as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’ We are members of AITO and bound by their quality charter. Complete financial security You can book with us confident that your holiday has full financial protection. Flight inclusive holidays are financially protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL licence number 2973 and ‘Land Only’ holidays are covered by a bond secured with ABTOT. Award winning Responsible Tourism We feel strongly that all our holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment and respect local traditions, religion and heritage. You can read more about the charities we support and our Responsible Tourism commitments and initiatives towards the end of this itinerary or at mountainkingdoms.com. Genuine small group travel Almost all of our holidays have a maximum group size of just 12, plus leader. This provides more contact with your leader, readier access to off-the-beaten-path areas, greater interaction with local communities and a reduced environmental impact. Loyalty Discount If you have previously travelled with us we recognise your loyalty with a discount on future trips. Booking your holiday – it couldn’t be easier Once you’ve chosen your Mountain Kingdoms holiday you can book online, call the office or complete and post a booking form which can be found in our brochure or downloaded from our website. If you would like to a hold a place on one of our trips, whilst you make up your mind, please give us a call to make a provisional booking. This is a no-obligation, no-cost booking and we will hold your place until space comes under pressure or we need your decision. Comprehensive information When we receive your booking we send you a full trip dossier which contains details of visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. In fact, everything you need to know to give you peace of mind and allow you to prepare for your trip of a lifetime.
Departures Group departures 2016 Dates: Fri 12 Feb - Mon 29 Feb Fri 03 Jun - Mon 20 Jun Fri 26 Aug - Mon 12 Sep Fri 02 Dec - Mon 19 Dec Deposit and payments Unlike many of our group departures, a non-refundable deposit of £450 is required to secure your booking on this holiday and your final balance is due 95 days before departure. For full details please refer to our terms and conditions on our website http://www.mountainkingdoms.com/essential-information or contact us for a postal copy. Group prices and optional supplements Please contact us or visit our website for our land only and flight inclusive prices and single supplement options.
Single cabins If you are travelling on your own and are willing to share, we will attempt to pair you up with another solo, same sex traveller. Where this is not possible a resulting single cabin has to be paid for. Please contact us for prices, or visit our website. Insurance We offer a travel insurance scheme – please contact us for details. Tailor Made service We pride ourselves on the level of quality and choice we provide for our clients who want a fully tailor made holiday. A Tailor Made holiday will be created especially for you by one of our well-travelled experts, who will have first-hand experience of the destination/s you want to visit. They will be able to advise on the accommodation best suited to your needs, the sights you should visit (and those to avoid!) and the best walks and activities matched to your ability. In short, we will work together with you to create your perfect holiday. If you would like to explore the idea of a Tailor Made holiday with Mountain Kingdoms then please call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 or see the Tailor Made pages of our website for further inspiration.
Your guide Your trip will be led by a fully trained English speaking local guide. In Ecuador these guides are enthusiasts for their mountains and are normally exceptionally highly educated, often in the States or in Europe and have lots of mountaineering and trekking experience. They can provide a fascinating insight into their country and an in-depth view of the area you are visiting. Your trip may be led by Fabien Freire or Pablo Montalvo both of whom are enthusiastic and popular leaders who have led this trip for us in the past. In the Galapagos you will be accompanied by expert captains and crew including Level 3 Naturalist Guides. Our naturalists are professionals who speak English fluently and will provide you with all the information you want to know about the wonders you will see while on your Galapagos cruise.
Your trip highlights
Enjoy wonderful walks in the Andes and then for a complete contrast take a cruise in the iconic Galapagos island.
Visit the old colonial centre of Quito, take a spectacular walk round Laguna Cuicocha and walk to the huts set on the slopes of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo volcanoes.
Stay in comfortable hotels and characterful lodges all set in wonderful locations
7 nights aboard a comfortable superior first class motor yacht with wonderful shore excursions.
At a glance: your itinerary Days 1-3 Days 4-5 Days 6-7 Days 8-9 Days 10-16 Days 17-18
Fly to Quito. Explore the city with a guided tour of the sights including: Panecillo, San Francisco, La Compania Church and Plaza Independencia then take a walk at Pululahua Crater, a volcanic caldera and visit the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World), which marks the equator. Drive to Peguche. Visit pre Inca ruins at Cochasqui on the way. Hike around Cuicocha Lake. Optional boat ride. Visit Otavalo market. Drive to Cotopaxi National Park. Walk to Limpio Pungo Lake and on to the glacier. Visit Inca ruins. Drive to Chimborazo and walk to hut. Return to Quito. Fly to Galapagos for 7 night cruise. End cruise and fly to Guayaquil for flight home.
Trip summary This itinerary provides a fabulous introduction to Ecuador, combining some wonderful walking and spectacular scenery in Ecuador’s Andes with a 7 night Galapagos cruise aboard a small and comfortable first class yacht. Ecuador sits on the equator between Peru and Colombia and it is one of the smallest of the Andean countries. Despite its small size the country’s Andean highlands offer an ideal destination for a gentle walking trip. After visiting Quito’s colonial Old Town and the large volcanic crater of Pululahua you will travel north to Cuicocha for a walk around this scenic crater-lake. On the way there you will visit the fine pre-Inca site of Cochasqui. You then visit Otavalo, famous for its craft market before travelling on through pretty pastoral countryside and up into the highlands surrounding Cotopaxi. Here you will stay in a thatched lodge set in open countryside with good views of the surrounding volcanoes of Pasochoa, Ruminahui, Cotopaxi and Sicholagua. After visiting a mountain hut high on the slopes of Cotopaxi at 4,810m/15,781ft and the nearby glacier, Chimborazo, beckons and you walk up to the mountain hut named after Edward Whymper who explored so much of this region, before you return to Quito. Then it is off to the Galapagos for the next part of your exciting journey. You will join a first class motor yacht for a seven night cruise with plenty of time to see some of the many natural wonders of these islands. You will sail on one of two identical cruise yachts, the MY Flamingo I or the MY Letty. These yachts feature three decks of spacious staterooms and each take a maximum of 20 passengers. Accommodation is in ten double, airconditioned, outside-facing cabins with a window or porthole and private bathroom. On board there is a dining room, a well-stocked bar and a conference area and you can also relax in a lounge chair on the sun deck. The cruise will explore the entire archipelago and each day you will have guided excursions and daily briefings with expert English-speaking naturalists. There will be easy-paced walks on the islands as well as opportunities to snorkel or kayak so that you can enjoy up close encounters with the amazing wildlife of the Galapagos. In fact, every day will bring new and exciting experiences with memories to treasure long after you return home.
Special Notes Free high-quality fleece On this trip we offer a free high-quality Mountain Kingdoms micro fleece instead of our customary kit bag. On this trip you may take a wheelie bag as your luggage will be transported by vehicles throughout. On many of our other trekking trips we offer a free Mountain Kingdoms kit bag as they are essential due to being carried by porters, horses and yaks; however we realise taking a kit bag on some trips is not so convenient or necessary. Your trip dossier will contain more information on the size of bag you can take. Note for all participants If you plan to undertake any adventure activities in the Galapagos Islands like kayaking, diving, snorkelling etc. you must now provide your blood group in the medical and emergency contact information collected when passengers arrive on board ship for cruises or other types of tour in the islands. Cabin category There are 3 cabin categories on the Galapagos yachts we use. Our price is based on twin share on the Iguana deck cabins. Prices will vary according to departure date, and grade of available cabin. Please contact us for details and availability.
Your trip itinerary Day 1: FLY LONDON TO QUITO Fly from London to Quito. Transfer to hotel for immediate occupancy. Your hotel in Quito will be situated in Quito's 'new town', and all around there are good restaurants and opportunities for souvenir and handicraft shopping. Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura Or Similar, Quito Day 2: AT LEISURE IN QUITO (2,850m/9,350ft) You will spend the morning at leisure in Quito. Quito is a busy, vibrant city at an altitude of 2,850m/9,350ft and is the second highest capital in the world. The city is located just 20 miles south of the equator, in a valley high in the Andes and is over-shadowed by the dramatic Pichincha Volcano. Nowadays, Quito has two main sections, the old colonial town which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the new town where most hotels and tourist facilities are located. In the afternoon, you will have a guided tour of the Old Town with its fabulous array of colonial churches, monasteries and convents. Firstly, for orientation, you will visit El Panecillo a hill on the southern edge of the old town topped by a huge statue of the Winged Virgin. From here there are great views of the old city and the surrounding mountains. You will then take in some of the major monuments from Quito's colonial legacy, including the vast cobbled square of San Francisco with its adjoining church and monastery and the richly decorated, baroque confection of the church of La Compañia. The streets of the Old Town throng with local people and there is much more of a feeling of being in the real, vibrant, South America here than in the rather staid and less characterful newer section of town. Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura Or Similar, Quito
(Meals: B)
Day 3: PULULAHUA CRATER AND MITAD DEL MUNDO - 40 mins walk Today will be spent in the environs of Quito city to help acclimatise to the altitude. After breakfast you will drive north of the city to the Pululahua crater, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, with a diameter of 8km. Here, 40 minutes steep walk down a small path, will bring you to the cultivated fields at the bottom of the crater and your first introduction to the rural landscape of the Andes. By late morning clouds often blow up from the west and billow into the crater. Before returning to Quito city you may visit the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). This is a rather touristy complex marking the equator but it does also have an interesting museum and displays. In the evening your guide will give you an introductory presentation on Ecuador. Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura Or Similar, Quito
(Meals: B)
Day 4: DRIVE TO PEGUCHE (2,670m/8,760ft) WITH VISIT TO CHOCHASQUI Today you set off north out of the city along the Pan American Highway. This road wends its way along a beautiful cultivated valley toward the town of Cayambe. Nowadays this area is the centre of Ecuador's flower growing industry which unfortunately means that a sea of plastic sheeted greenhouses now somewhat mars the once verdant landscape. Seventy kilometres north of Quito you will visit the ruins of Cochasqui, set beneath volcano Fuya Fuya and one of Ecuador's most significant pre-Inca sites. Cochasqui, situated at 3,100m/10,171ft, is thought to have been either a fortress or an observatory and was built by the Cara people around the year 900 AD. There are 15 pyramids on the site, now grass-covered but originally built from large blocks of volcanic material. On a clear day there are fine views of the surrounding countryside and of the summit of Cayambe volcano to the east. There is also a breeding project for llamas here.
You will then continue north, passing the large lake of San Pablo and on through the town of Otavalo, famous for its market. You leave the Pan American Highway and after a few minutes you reach the village of Peguche. From here you may make a quick walk on to visit the sacred waterfall of La Cascada de Peguche before you check into your accommodation at Hacienda Pinsaqui. In the afternoon there may be time to visit the town of Cotacachi famous for its flourishing industry in leatherwork. Overnight: Hacienda Pinsaqui Or Similar, Otavalo
(Meals: BLD)
Day 5: WALK ROUND CUICOCHA LAKE (3,246m/10,650ft) 5-6 hours walk After a good breakfast you drive from Peguche to Laguna Cuicocha (Guinea Pig Lake) a spectacular crater lake situated in the collapsed crater of a volcano, at the foot of Volcán Cotacachi, at an altitude of 3,350m/11,000ft. Here you can make a pleasant walk right around the Lake. You set off in a clockwise direction firstly on the tarmac and then along a well-maintained trail which undulates along the crater rim with good views over the lake with its two islands. From here, weather permitting, it is possible to see eight volcanoes - Cotacachi, Cuicocha, Imbabura, Cayembe, Antisana, Cotopaxi and Pichincha. You walk through lush vegetation and will see many native Andean plants including bromeliads, orchids and puyas (a handsome plant with a tall flower-spike). You will also see, among many other birds, humming birds, large thrushes (merlots) and down on the lake coots and several species of duck. If you are lucky you may see an American kestrel and perhaps even a condor. You reach a high viewpoint from where there are excellent views over the lake. The trail then descends to some modern buildings, including an interpretation centre where Indian ladies often gather to sell souvenirs. It might be possible to take an optional boat ride out onto the lake from here if you wish. You then return to the car park for the drive back to your hotel. Overnight: Hacienda Pinsaqui Or Similar, Otavalo
(Meals: BLD)
Day 6: VISIT OTAVALO MARKET (2,633m/8,641ft), DRIVE TO C0TOPAXI REGION Today after breakfast you will make the short drive to Otavalo to visit the famous Otavalo market. The people of Otavalo have been famed for their artistic flair and as fine weavers since pre-colonial times. The Otavalans are also great entrepreneurs and nowadays people from the town travel all over the world selling their goods. The Saturday Market at Otavalo is one of the best and most famous in South America and by early morning producers from far and wide flock to the town to set up their stalls. As well as the local produce and animal markets there is a wonderful array of handicrafts on sale - weavings, tapestry, rugs, bags, paintings and other artwork made by the local indigenous community. There are handicrafts here to excite even the most hardened souvenir shopper. From Otavalo you will drive south to rejoin the Pan American Highway and bypassing Cayambe town turn south toward Quito. You approach the area immediately around Cotopaxi and drive through a peaceful rural landscape with pretty farmland and small settlements along the way. You drive along a cobbled road with the Rio Pita, which flows down from the slopes of Cotopaxi, gurgling away down on your left. As you climb higher you emerge onto the rolling 'paramo' with fine all round views and several volcanoes in sight. You arrive at the relatively newly built lodge of Chilcapampa at around 3,600m/11,811ft. From here you can see the volcanoes of Pasachoa and Sincholagua. Overnight: Chilcapampa Lodge Or Similar, Pichincha
(Meals: BLD)
Day 7: IN COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK Today you will have a full day in the Cotopaxi National Park. You drive to the base of the mountain and then ascend on foot to the Jose F Ribas Refuge (4,810m/15,784ft). Cotopaxi summit now looms overhead. At this hut you are at the same height as the summit of Mont Blanc. From the hut you can walk out to the glacier coming down from Cotopaxi summit and explore the area around. The glacier has been receding rapidly in recent years but is still pretty impressive with its seracs and great broken slabs of ice. Look out round here for the 'lobos de paramo' which are sometimes seen in the area - the locals call them 'lobos' or 'wolves' but they seem more likely to be a type of fox. It's also worth watching out for condor and white-tailed deer. You will then visit the small lake called Limpiopungo where you can see many Andean water birds - ducks, gulls, lapwings and waders. There are also nearby Inca ruins that you may visit. Overnight: Chilcapampa Lodge Or Similar, Pichincha
(Meals: BLD)
Day 8: DRIVE TO CHIMBORAZO. 3-4 hours drive Today you drive through the beautiful Cotopaxi National Park, again passing Cotopaxi mountain, and out through the southern park gates. Watch out along the way for white tailed deer. You descend to the PanAmerican Highway and the town of Latacunga and continue to Ambato. You then drive up onto the lower slopes of Chimborazo to come to Urbina, the highest railway station in Ecuador. The buildings of the railway station have been converted into a quirky mountain refuge with llamas grazing the surrounding meadows. While the railway lines still exist in front of Urbina scheduled train services no longer run on this line. You will have lunch at Urbina before continuing around Chimborazo to the bottom of an extremely scenic valley leading up to Chimborazo summit. This is a lovely and remote spot. Your accommodation for tonight is here in the attractive lodge, Chimborazo Basecamp Hillstar (4,000m/13,124ft), built on the site of the 'Tambo de Totorillas', a former roadside inn on the old Inca royal road between Guayaquil and Quito. This lodge is built in traditional vernacular style with the attractive dining room located in a central building and comfortable accommodation in thatched buildings nearby, just across a small stream. (The Chimborazo Base Camp Hillstar is quite a small lodge and if accommodation is not available here you will drive down to stay at a pretty hacienda near Riobamba). Overnight: Chimborazo Base Camp Hill Star Lodge Or Similar
(Meals: BLD)
Day 9: WALK UP TO WHYMPER HUT ON CHIMBORAZO (5,000m/16,405ft), DRIVE BACK TO QUITO. Chimborazo is a massive volcano and is thought to have last erupted 10,000 years ago. Its snowy peak can be seen from ships on the Pacific, and it is arguably the tallest mountain in the world. Mount Everest is highest if you use height above sea level but if you measure distance from the centre of the earth, then Chimborazo is much higher - by around 2 miles - since the earth is not a perfect sphere, but bulges considerably around the Equator. You have two choices today - speak to your guide about which walk you would prefer to do: * The more energetic can walk all the way to the hut. You first take a little used trail up the very attractive valley towards the summit of Chimborazo, perhaps passing grazing llamas as you go. Vicuñas have been re-introduced onto Chimborazo and you may be lucky enough to see these elegant animals as you ascend. Listen out for them as they whistle to each other (or at you!) across the slopes. The route then becomes rougher underfoot and steeper and more rocky, and the vegetation thins and the volcanic nature of the terrain becomes more evident. Higher still the landscape becomes ever more lunar. Finally the refuge comes into view above you and you ascend to it. * If you prefer something less energetic you can drive round the mountain to a parking place high on the slopes of Chimborazo, below the hut, and then walk the few hundred metres up to the hut, an easier but still quite energetic option. From the refuge, if you still have a bit of puff left, you can climb further to the rocky outcrop, known as Whymper Needles, for further stunning mountain views. After your excursion to Chimborazo you will drive back to Quito. As your flight to the Galapagos will be quite early in the morning you will stay at a hotel near the airport, the pleasant Ilatoa Lodge located in a pleasant rural suburb of Quito. Overnight: Ilatoa Lodge Or Similar
(Meals: BLD)
Day 10: FLY TO GALAPAGOS AND TRANSFER TO YOUR CRUISE. You will transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos. At the airport you need to go to the section of check-in dedicated to departures for the Galapagos (currently over to the right of the check in area). Then when checking in you will need $10 to pay for your Tourist Transit Card (TCT). This is payable at a special booth at Quito airport. You will fly to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands also known as Chatham Island. On arrival you will be met at the airport and will travel by bus to the jetty and then by zodiac to your yacht anchored in the bay. You will join one of two identical cruise yachts, the M/Y Flamingo I or M/Y Letty, or the new yacht M/Y Origin, which take a maximum of 20 passengers each. There will be a welcome briefing and safety drill, you will be shown your cabin and the boat's facilities and then lunch will be served on board. Later
back on dry land you travel by bus to Cerro Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill) situated on the edge a town. This is one of two sites where you can spot nesting colonies of both species of Frigate birds (Great and Magnificent). The trail leads to Punta Carola where there are beautiful views. You will find lava lizards, the medium ground finch and Chatham mockingbird. You will then return to your yacht for a briefing, followed by a welcome cocktail party given by the yacht captain. Dinner will be served and your journey at sea begins. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 11: CRUISE DAY TWO You land at Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking white coral sand beach, considered one of the most spectacular in Galapagos and perfect for a peaceful walk with expansive views. You have an opportunity to snorkel or kayak from the beach or swim with sea lions. A zodiac ride takes you through a cave called "The Cathedral". During lunch you cruise toward the north-eastern tip of San Cristobal to Punta Pitt, a tuff formation that serves as a nesting site for many sea birds including all three types of boobies: Blue footed, Nazca and Red-footed, both Frigate species, swallow-tailed gulls, Storm petrels, Shearwaters, Brown pelicans and a colony of sea lions. Punta Pitt is considered to be a first class site for sea birds on par with Genovesa (Tower) Island. You can snorkel at Pitt Rock with sea lions and colourful fish such as King Angel and Surgeon fish. Back on board, you cruise around Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a vertical tuff cone formation that rises abruptly almost 500 feet out of the ocean. From the sun deck, you can spot Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and Magnificent Frigate birds. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 12: CRUISE DAY THREE You will disembark at Punta Suarez, Espanola (Hood), where you witness the highest rate of endemic species in Galapagos. Sea lions noisily greet you as you land on their beach. Curious Hood mockingbirds peck at your shoelaces. From April to December, the waved albatross, found only on Espanola, perform their wild mating ritual. Colonies of blue-footed boobies engage in "sky-pointing" to show off for potential mates. Nazca boobies busily care for their young. Stunning swallow-tailed gulls are the only nocturnal gulls in the world and fish at night. Red-billed tropicbirds take shelter under the cliffs. Here are also found Darwin's Finches, Galapagos Doves and Galapagos Hawks. You might also see a unique species of marine iguana identified with traces of red and green colourings. Colourful sally light-foot crabs crawl along the shoreline near to the famous "blow hole". After lunch you make a wet landing on Gardner Bay, Espanola (Hood) and walk along a seemingly endless stretch of white sandy beach where you'll find large colonies of sea lions. There is no trail to follow so this is a chance to explore or take a long walk. You may find a Galapagos Hawk, Darwin's Finches or Hood Mockingbird. You might also swim with sea lions right from the beach, explore the bay and islets by kayak or just relax on the beach. There's an excellent snorkeling site off Gardner Islet with a colourful diversity of sea life near Tortuga Rock. You may also take your zodiac to explore the caves. You will return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 13: CRUISE DAY FOUR You will land at at Punta Cormorant, Floreana (Charles), one of the few populated islands in the Galapagos. Floreana presents a human history rich with mystery and intrigue. You land on a green-sand beach alive with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons, yellow crowned night heron, blue-footed boobies and penguins. You follow a trail to a brackish lagoon, home of the Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galapagos Flycatcher, Yellow warblers and the Greater Flamingos, the pinkest in the world. You wind your way past a rich variety of plants including Morning Glory, Cut Leaf Daisies, Black, red and white mangroves, Palo Verdes and Scalesia. The trail leads to a beach with powder soft sand where sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes and rays swim in the shallow water. After the walk, you will have an opportunity to snorkel at Champion, a shallow sunken crater colonized by a brilliant array of colourful fish and corral. Today lunch will served on the sundeck if weather conditions permit. After lunch, you visit Post Office Bay, not the most scenic, but one of the most famous sites in Galapagos. Here in the 18th century a post barrel was erected and put into use by English whaling vessels. You are invited to leave a post card and to pick up any mail to deliver in your home area. There is a chance to swim from the beach with sea lions. In the late afternoon, you take a Zodiac ride at Baroness Point where you spot sea turtles and rays. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 14: CRUISE DAY FIVE Today you travel by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The scenery gradually changes as you wind your way through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. Here, you visit the tortoise reserve at "Las Primicias" one of the private farms in the highlands where you encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat. You stop at "the tunnels", the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos and visit Los Gemelos, Spanish for "The Twins", a pair of large pit craters where you find the bright red male vermilion flycatcher. After lunch, you will visit the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena (Charles Darwin Research Station) where you will see the tortoise corrals (formerly home to famous Lonesome George and the breeding centre with new hatchlings and miniature tortoises not yet ready to be repatriated. Scientists from all over the globe work at the station and conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology. You will also visit Van Straelen Hall where there are exhibits and a presentation. Nearby Puerto Ayora, a bustling small town is the social heart of the islands. Here there are opportunities for souvenir shopping, to post your cards or to visit an internet café or bank. This evening you have the option to return to your yacht for dinner or to remain in town on your own account. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 15: CRUISE DAY SIX Today you disembark at Bartolome with its strange lunar landscape. This young Island is inhospitable to most plants and animals. After a dry landing you will climb 30 minutes up stairs leading to the summit of a once active volcano. Along the way you may pause to marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From the top of the wooden stairs, you can gaze out across panoramic views of the island and "Pinnacle Rock", an eroded tuff cone. You may snorkel from the beach in the crystal clear water with schools of tropical fish and Galapagos Penguins or take a Zodiac ride. After lunch, you visit Las Bachas, (Spanish for "barges"). Here there is a long stretch of a soft white sand beach and interior lagoons where you may find Greater Flamingo. You might also visit Black Turtle Cove (Caleta Tortuga Negra) where you have a zodiac ride through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves where you can view pairs of mating sea turtles (Sept to Feb), white-tipped reef sharks and golden cow-nosed rays. There is also a wonderful chance to snorkel here from the beach. Tonight you will anchor in a calm protected area. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 16: CRUISE DAY SEVEN Today you visit South Plaza, a small geological uplift with tall cliffs offering spectacular views. After a dry landing, the trail leads you through Prickly Pear or Opuntia and Sesuvium. Here you can find the Galapagos Land Iguana feeding on the cactus leaves. Toward the end of the hill, you encounter a colony of bachelor sea lions. The dominant bulls are in various stages of recovery from battles lost over prime beach territory. You also find Swallow tailed gulls, Shearwaters and Red-billed tropicbirds which build their nests along the cliffs. After lunch, you have a dry landing at North Seymour, a small geological uplift. You follow a trail that leads you to Swallow-tailed gulls, Blue-footed boobies and the endemic Land iguanas and visit the largest colony of Magnificent Frigate birds found in Galapagos. As you stroll along the beach, you will see Marine Iguanas and sea lions which body surf the northern swells. You return to the yacht for the Captain's Farwell cocktail party and dinner as well as a special slide show presentation by your guides. Overnight: Premium Class Yacht
(Meals: BLD)
Day 17: END CRUISE AND FLY TO GUAYAQUIL TO CONNECT WITH INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT HOME Today you will visit the Interpretation Centre on San Cristobal Island where you will get a very interesting overview of the natural and human history of the Islands. Later there will also be some time to wander round town, perhaps visit a local bar or buy some last minute souvenirs before heading to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. On arrival in Guayaquil you will connect with your international flight home.
Day 18: ARRIVE UK
Trek Altitude IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this trip involves travel at altitude. Whilst all our itineraries are carefully designed to optimise acclimatisation to high altitudes, participants on this trip are likely to experience some symptoms of being at altitude. The Dossier pack we provide when you book your holiday includes comprehensive advice on safe travel at altitude. If you require further information or advice on travel at altitude prior to booking please contact the office to speak to an experienced member of our team. Alternatively we recommend www.medex.org.uk as a good source of information.
What the price includes Mountain Kingdoms aims to offer the best value for money. We do not charge extra for meal packages or apply local charges and try to ensure that all the key elements of your holiday are included Therefore, the price includes: included in the tour price – currently $100 per person.
Gentle Walking trip in Andes with local English speaking leader for the walks Galapagos Cruise on Superior First Class yacht with on board naturalist, all excursions and full board accommodation. Economy class return air fares from the UK & UK Departure Tax (flight inclusive only) All hotel/airport transfers Good standard hotel accommodation (4 star) in Quito on twin share, bed and breakfast basis Best available hotels in outlying towns, on full board basis Galapagos Tourist Transit Card (TTC) – payable at Quito airport before departure for the Galapagos – currently $20 per person
All road transport by private vehicles All meals except lunch & dinner in Quito and Guyaquil Sightseeing where specified The following are included on your cruise: all meals and snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, purified water, Captain’s welcome and farewell cocktail, house wine and local beer served during dinner, guided shore excursions, use of wet suits, snorkel equipment and sea kayaks and all transfers in the Islands between the airport and dock. A free high quality Mountain Kingdoms microfleece
National Park Tax for Galapagos, payable on arrival at the airport in Galapagos so not
The price does not include: Travel insurance
Visa fees if applicable
Lunch and evening meals in Quito and Guyaquil
Airport departure taxes, if applicable
Optional trips
Tips
SINGLE CABINS: If you are travelling on your own and are willing to share, we will attempt to pair you up with another solo, same sex traveller. Where this is not possible a resulting single cabin has to be paid for. Please contact us for prices.
Will the trip run? This trip is guaranteed to run for 2 people and for a maximum of 12. In the rare event that we cancel a holiday, we will refund you in full and give you at least 6 weeks warning. Many treks do fill up quickly – we advise you to book early if you want to secure a place(s) on the dates of your choice.
Your accommodation Note: We will endeavour to secure the hotels named in the itinerary but if our first choice of hotel is not available we will book a suitable alternative of a similar standard. Hotel Cafe Cultura Or Similar, Quito This hotel, located in the Mariscal sector of downtown Quito, was formerly an old family home. It has been lovingly converted and restored with whitewashed walls and a traditional terracotta tiled roof and is surrounded by a beautiful garden. There are cosy log fires in the public areas and the walls are painted with frescoes. The Café Cultura is quite small and has limited accommodation and if rooms are not available you will stay at the nearby Hotel Reina Isabel, a modern tourist class hotel, or similar. Hacienda Pinsaqui Or Similar, Otavalo For three hundred years the Hacienda Pinsaqui has been part of Ecuadorian history. It is one of Ecuador's oldest haciendas - Simon Bolivar stayed there! Now a charming hosteria the Pinsaqui is set in beautiful gardens, surrounded by lovely countryside. It is a friendly pace with rustic but comfortable accommodation and food and service are good. Chilcapampa Lodge Or Similar, Pichincha Chilcapampa Lodge: This lodge was newly constructed in 2006. The central lodge is made of adobe and is thatched and there is a log fire in the dining room. The rooms are set in newly landscaped grounds. If Chilcapampa is unavailable you will stay at Hacienda Porvenir: This is a traditional Ecuadorian hacienda, at the foothills of Rumiñahui Volcano, which features simple but comfortable accommodation. Chimborazo Base Camp Hill Star Lodge Or Similar Chimborazo Base Camp Hillstar: This lodge is built on the site of the ‘Tambo de Totorillas’, a former roadside inn on the old Inca royal road between Guayaquil and Quito. Built in traditional vernacular style, the attractive dining room, located in a central building, is thatched, as are the buildings containing twin rooms located just across a small stream. If Chimborazo Base Camp is unavailable you will stay in a nice hotel in the town of Riobamba. Ilatoa Lodge Or Similar A small, comfortable hotel, conveniently located for the airport in a pleasant rural suburb of Quito. Lovely grounds and a stunning view across the valley.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Premium Class Yacht You will join one of two identical first class yachts, MY Letty and MY Flamingo which were custom-designed for Galapagos cruising. Originally built in 1991 they are refurbished annually. Each yacht accommodates no more than 20 guests and feature three decks of spacious staterooms with polished teak interiors trimmed with shiny brass fittings. Accommodations include ten double outside-facing cabins with a window or porthole view, one double bed or two twin lower beds. Cabins are fully air-conditioned with private bathroom (hot and cold water showers), biodegradable soap/shampoo dispensers, hair dryer, closet, drawers, intercom and separate climate controls for your comfort. There’s a dining room, well-stocked bar and conference area with a flat screen TV, library and panoramic picture windows. You may also relax in a lounge chair on the sun deck. Three meals daily are included on board and snacks after excursions as well as house wine and local beer with dinner. Another yacht, the MY Origin, will be joining the fleet for 2016. Please note that all single cabins on the Galapagos cruises must be paid for. Please contact us for details and prices on 01453 844400.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Meal arrangements 16 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 13 Dinners.
Flight arrangements Flight-inclusive from price Regretfully gone are the days when an airline quoted one price and we were able to fix a Flight Inclusive price in our brochure. In these days of Fuel Surcharges, Airport Departure Taxes, and with airlines changing their fares on a frequent basis, printing a fixed price is no longer the best way of getting you the cheapest fare. This is our overriding aim – to give you the best fare possible at time of booking. Remember, the earlier you book the greater your chances of securing the best fare. Flight inclusive packages booked through Mountain Kingdoms are protected through our ATOL bonding scheme. Flight Upgrades and Regional Airports Please call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 for flight options from regional UK airports, Business Class upgrades, alternative airlines and stopovers. Please also check our website for the most up to date flight inclusive ‘from' prices.
Further information When we receive your booking, we send you a full Trip Dossier which contains details of any visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. If you do have queries at this initial stage do call us on 01453 844400 and we will be pleased to offer advice.
The nature of adventure travel Every effort will be made to keep to this itinerary but we cannot guarantee that things may not change, either before you travel or while you are away. By its very nature, adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected, particularly in more remote areas. A variety of factors such as adverse weather conditions, changes to local schedules and difficulties with transportation can all contribute to the need to make changes to the itinerary, often at the very last minute. Our Operations Manager and your Trip Leader will make every effort to maintain the integrity of the original itinerary and minimise the impact of any changes, but an easy-going and flexible nature is a real asset! Please note that all timings and distances given are approximate.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Climate information
Extensions Extending your holiday If you would like additional inspiration on how or where to extend your holiday please call us on 01453 844400. Alternatively, you can download extension information sheets on our website, at www.mountainkingdoms.com. There are many ways you can extend your holiday with Mountain Kingdoms: you could book extra hotel nights at the start or end of your trip, arrange a personal sightseeing tour or enjoy some other exciting activities. In fact, whatever's available we can help make it happen. We're happy to suggest ideas, provide quotes and make all the arrangements. We can also assist with flight and hotel upgrades.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Mountain Kingdoms & Responsible Tourism Our commitment Mountain Kingdoms is committed to responsible tourism, through policies and practices which permeate all aspects of its business. Our policies aim to ensure that we and our clients act in a way which is socially, environmentally and culturally sound. We feel strongly that all Mountain Kingdoms holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment by minimising pollution, and respect local traditions, religion and heritage. We tread lightly - low volume, low impact trekking/touring is the best way of preserving the beautiful and fragile places we visit. We work with organisations such as Tourism Concern, International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), Ecoan, AITO and various charities, to help achieve our responsible tourism goals. Our initiatives We support a number of charities in many of the destinations we visit. In 2015 our main efforts went into raising money for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal. Rather than support the large international charities we channelled the money raised to small local charities that we know and trust implicitly. This meant that every pound raised was spent in helping the Nepalese people directly. On one day alone we raised £30,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Other examples of our recent ongoing work are the Simien Mountains Mobile Medical Service, the Ginette Harrison School in Nepal, the New Life Centre in Kathmandu, the Village Education Project in Kilimanjaro, English-speaking courses for our trusty Sherpas, and many more. If you know of a registered charity that does good ‘hands on’ work in a country that we operate in please send us details and we will consider adding it to the list of charities we support. Further details of all our Responsible Tourism initiatives can be found at www.mountainkingdoms.com/about/responsible-travel Porter Protection In the countries where we use porters we feel that the issue of porter protection is immensely important. We support the work and the aims of the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) and as such we have a set of guidelines to adhere to and which we apply worldwide. Carbon off-setting Working with Ecoan tree-planting project in Southern Peru we offset the carbon emissions for every Mountain Kingdoms holiday sold that includes an international flight.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Why book this holiday with Mountain Kingdoms?
This specially researched itinerary is unique to Mountain Kingdoms. We routinely research and make a reconnaissance of our walks ourselves.
We use English speaking Ecuadorian leaders who have a wealth of enthusiasm and knowledge about their country and its wonderful landscapes.
Accommodation includes comfortable hotels in Quito and Otavalo, and several quirky and characterful lodges all set in wonderful locations with spectacular views.
As our minimum group size is 2 the trip is extremely likely to get up and running. Some of our competitors have larger minimum group sizes and may cancel under-subscribed trips.
We care about the Andes and their people and support responsible tourism. Mountain Kingdoms has an award winning Responsible Tourism Policy, and we work hard to ensure all our local agents adhere to our standards and procedures.
We use small boats for the Galapagos cruise ensuring a more personal experience and better wildlife viewing opportunities. The ratio of the accompanying expert naturalist to clients is 1:10.
The Galapagos cruise is a continuous 7 day cruise. Unlike many of the bigger boats It does not go backwards and forwards to drop off and collect more passengers.
No hidden costs. We don’t impose surcharges for small groups. Please see our booking conditions for further information.
We are an IATA credited agent and work directly with some of the world’s major airlines. If you wish to fly with a specific airline or on alternative dates to the main group we would be happy to arrange this for you
If we’ve tempted you to take your next holiday with us, we advise you to check availability and you can do this via our website: www.mountainkingdoms.com or by calling the team on +44 (0)1453 844400. Bookings can be made online, by phone or by completing a booking form and returning it to us. We can also provisionally hold places if you need time to consider your options.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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What our clients say What a fabulous trip! This holiday offers one of the most inspiring and varied experiences of any of Mountain Kingdoms’ many trips. One day you are climbing the slopes of a snow capped volcano in the high Andes or wandering the colonial streets of Quito and staying in great lodges and hotels, while the next you marvel at the stunning wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, have close encounters with unique birds such as the Blue Footed Booby, meet ancient tortoises and walk through enormous colonies of sea lions, with opportunities to swim with penguins or snorkel amongst exotic fish, all from the comfort of your own high quality yacht. - Ms S, Wiltshire
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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